Bulls' Jay Williams badly hurt in crash

Bulls guard Jay Williams spent Thursday night in Illinois Masonic Hospital after breaking his leg and sustaining other injuries in a motorcycle accident on Chicago's North Side.

Details on the extent of Williams' injuries were sketchy, but a team source said Williams underwent surgery after the crash, which took place shortly after 5 p.m.

The same source said Williams also may have sustained injuries to his pelvic area and described Williams' situation as "not good."

Williams crashed his motorcycle into a pole at the intersection of Honore and Fletcher Streets.

Bulls general manager John Paxson couldn't be reached for comment, but a team spokesman confirmed the accident and said the team would release details on Williams' condition Friday.

Bulls coach Bill Cartwright echoed the sentiments of most people in the organization who also were reached.

"I'm not worried about the team or what this does for our future," Cartwright said. "I'm just worried about Jay. I'm worried about the severity of his injury for his career. We just have to wait and see. Our thoughts are with him."

Williams, the second overall selection in last year's NBA draft, averaged 9.5 points and 4.7 assists in 75 games during a turbulent rookie season. He endured an intense battle for the starting point guard position with Jamal Crawford, which created tension at times in the locker room.

Crawford and Williams played well together down the stretch of last season and vowed this off-season to build on that momentum next season if given the chance.

"I'm kind of in shock," Crawford said from Seattle. "Jay and I were really looking forward to playing together and making some noise next season. Like everybody else on the team, I just hope he's OK and recovers quickly."

Reached on his cell phone, David Williams, Jay's father, said: "This isn't a good time to talk."

If Williams' injury is as serious as initial reports indicated, the accident isn't only devastating for Williams and his family; it also comes at an extremely inopportune time for Paxson and the franchise.

With the NBA draft scheduled for Thursday, league sources indicate Paxson has been receiving several calls from rival league executives gauging the availability of Crawford and Williams. The perception around the league is that with two talented point guards, the Bulls might be willing to part with one for the right price.

Paxson, sources said, had been listening to possible offers for Williams or Crawford with the Bulls' No. 7 pick. Williams' injury is likely to affect those talks.

If Williams is sidelined into next season, the Bulls almost certainly would have to hang onto Crawford to enter next season with an experienced point guard.

Williams worked out at the Berto Center on Thursday morning with Crawford before Crawford flew home to Seattle.